Apple just announced a new iPad Air that has a stellar camera, excellent Liquid Retina display, and most importantly, the powerful new A14 Bionic chipset. It does lack the ProMotion display and LiDAR scanner but at $599, it’s a better value than iPad Pro. So, if you have already pre-ordered the iPad Air (4th Gen) then you must also get a compatible smart pencil to make your iPad experience complete. The official Apple Pencil 2 is an obvious choice, but it comes at a steep price. And that’s why we have curated a list of the best Apple Pencil 2 alternatives for iPad Air (4th Gen) that has all the necessary features. So without further ado, let’s go through the list.
Best Apple Pencil 2 Alternatives for iPad Air (4th Gen)
Here, we have enlisted the top Apple Pencil 2 alternatives that are compatible with iPad Air (4th Gen). We have also mentioned a feature-packed Apple Pencil 2 alternative for Indian users so that you don’t end up buying an incompatible stylus. Take a look at all the alternatives below and click on the link to move to the corresponding pen.
- Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil
- Adonit Note+
- JamJake Stylus Pen
- Ankace Stylus Pen
- Case U Pen (India)
- Xiron Stylus
- Fojojo Active Stylus
- Doboli Stylus
List of Top Apple Pencil 2 Alternatives for iPad Air 4
1. Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil
Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil is one of the best Apple Pencil 2 alternatives and it’s also compatible with the new iPad Air (4th Gen). The pencil costs nearly half of what the official Apple Pencil 2 costs and you get almost all the features which is great. First of all, it features the palm rejection technology so you will be able to sketch or draw without any stray touches.
Next, the accuracy is pretty close to the official Apple Pencil 2 and many professionals have endorsed Logitech’s precision. And the best part is that its tips are interchangeable and you can use tips of all sizes (sold separately). Not to mention, Logitech Crayon is one of the few Apple Pencil 2 alternatives that can adjust the line by how much pressure you exert.
Having said all of that, the only cons is that it does not attach to the iPad Air (4th Gen) magnetically which is expected as it’s a third-party accessory. All in all, I would say, for significantly less price, the Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil is a great Apple Pencil 2 alternative and you should give it a look.
Buy from Amazon: $69.95
2. Adonit Note+
Adonit Note+ is another Apple Pencil 2 alternative that can be a great companion for the iPad Air (4th Gen). Similar to Logitech Crayon, it’s also pressure-sensitive and can draw or create a shade effect by tilting the pen tip. Adonit Note+ also features palm rejection technology and offers two quick shortcut buttons. You can configure the buttons for Undo, Redo or Erase which is awesome.
What I love about Adonit Note+ is that it comes with a USB C port so you can use any Type-C power brick to charge your pencil. Finally, the accuracy is also on point and many professionals recommend it for its precision. To sum up, Adonit Note+ is another Apple Pencil 2 alternative for iPad Air (4th Gen) that costs less and brings almost all the major features.
Buy from Amazon: $55.99
3. JamJake Stylus Pen
If you are looking for an affordable Apple Pencil 2 alternative that is compatible with iPad Air (4th Gen) then JamJake Stylus Pen is worth considering. It just costs $34 and brings stellar accuracy and battery life. Sure, it does not have prime features like natural tilting and pressure sensitivity but you get a rock-solid pencil that can be used for taking notes, doodling and for casual drawing as well.
Just don’t expect the kind of controls that you get on Logitech or the official Apple Pencil. Apart from that, JamJake Stylus Pen comes with palm rejection technology so that is sorted. Simply put, with 20-hr battery life, JamJake Stylus Pen is one of the best alternatives to Apple Pencil 2 and at this price, you can’t beat it.
Buy from Amazon: $33.99
4. Ankace Stylus Pen
Ankace Stylus Pen is another Apple Pencil 2 alternative for budget users who want all the major features but for a less price. It surprisingly offers tilt and pressure sensitivity and claims that it works very well while drawing or choosing a broader stroke of brush. Next, the Ankace Stylus Pen features palm rejection technology so that you can keep on drawing without having any fear of accidental touches.
Also, the 1.2MM tip allows the pencil to precisely render a user input without any lag or breaking point. I would say, if you want a feature-rich stylus like Apple Pencil 2 for your iPad Air (4th Gen) then Ankace Stylus Pen is a solid contender on this list.
Buy from Amazon: $31.99
5. Case U Pen (India)
iPad users in India generally don’t have access to the best Apple Pencil 2 alternatives, but thankfully, Case U Pen has brought a great stylus at low price and one that is compatible with iPad Air (4th Gen).
It’s also feature-packed bringing niceties like high precision drawing, no input lag and best of all, palm rejection under Rs. 4K. Since the Case U Pen comes with a 1.2mm POM tip, you can expect greater accuracy without any offset while writing or sketching.
Case U Pen does not support tilt drawing and pressure sensitivity, but you can use multiple nib designs for different brushes. All in all, the Case U Pen is a solid alternative to Apple Pencil 2 and if you have recently got the iPad Air (4th Gen) then it will prove to be a perfect companion.
Buy from Amazon: Rs. 3,699
6. Xiron Stylus
Xiron Stylus is our next pick mainly because of its low-cost price and features that are quite comparable to the official Apple Pencil 2. Packed with palm rejection technology, the Xiron Stylus brings a smooth experience while taking notes, drawing or sketching. Similar to other smart pens on this list, the tip size is 1.2mm which is pretty good. It should translate to high precision input without any breaking point.
Not to mention, the Xiron Stylus offers 20-hr of battery life with support for USB-C charging so that is great. Summing up, if you are looking for an Apple Pencil 2 alternative for iPad Air (4th Gen) under $30 then Xiron Stylus is a perfect pick.
Buy from Amazon: $29.99
7. Fojojo Active Stylus
Fojojo Active Stylus is yet another smart pen that is very similar to Apple Pencil 2 in terms of features and appearance. The pen is compatible with iPad Air (4th Gen) and brings palm rejection technology at an affordable price. Fojojo Active Stylus features a 1.2mm carbon fiber tip so your writing experience will remain both comfortable and smooth.
You also get 20-hr battery life which is in line with other smart pens on this list. The best part is that it comes with Type-C charging and a charger is also included in the box. Basically, you are getting all the necessary features of Apple Pencil 2 and you should definitely give it a look.
Buy from Amazon: $29.99
8. Doboli Stylus
Doboli Stylus is the cheapest Apple Pencil 2 alternative on this list, but it does not cut major corners and offers essential features at just $27. The pencil is compatible with iPad Air (4th Gen) and brings palm rejection technology for smooth writing. The pen tip is 1.2mm in size and it’s made of carbon fiber so that is great.
The pencil claims to offer lag-free drawing and no-skip sketching experience. Finally, the battery life is also pretty decent and it can last up to 20 hours of continuous usage. To conclude, Doboli Stylus is a decent Apple Pencil 2 alternative and you can get it if you don’t want to splurge top dollars on a smart stylus.
Buy from Amazon: $26.99
Top Smart Stylus Like Apple Pencil 2 for iPad Air (4th Gen)
So those are our picks for the best Apple Pencil 2 alternatives for the latest iPad Air (4th Gen). We have mentioned some high-end pencils on the top that offer pressure sensitivity and natural tilting. If you have that kind of a budget then you can go with those pencils, it will still cost you lesser than the official Apple Pencil 2. Apart from that, you can also take a look at budget alternatives mentioned just below. Anyway, that is all from us. If you found the article helpful then do comment down below and let us know.
This comment is especially for whoever was involved in putting these wonderful Apple 2 Pencil comparison list with the best 4 or more of your “Best Finds”!
I wasn’t sure how to compare these or even whether I needed a pencil or a pen to use with my iPad Air 4, or whether I needed BOTH? I’m still not sure if the Apple 2 Pen works with my iPad or if it just takes the pencil, but that’s the learning curve, and you’re helping me figure this out minus f-bombs of frustration, which I always appreciate, as my poor neighbors are a captive audience if I really get riled up from stress — on their behalf, also. Thank You!🙂
Thank you for doing all the comparisons of pencils comparable to the Apple 2 pencil for iPad Air 4Generation! You have made my life so much easier right now with this valuable input & your recommendations and that is VERY much appreciated!
Y’all are my Angels!🌺
CaseU pencil don’t support Ipad air 4